The 12th Japan-ASEAN Defense Vice-Ministerial Forum and the Japan-ASEAN Seminar on Climate Change and Security
On 15 march 2023, the JMOD/SDF held the 12th Japan-ASEAN Defense Vice-Ministerial Forum and the Seminar on Climate Change and Security.
Mr. OKA Masami, Japan’s Vice-Minister of Defense for International Affairs presided over the forum and the seminar, in which Vice-Ministers and Secretaries (and officials at other levels) from ASEAN member states, and the ASEAN Secretariat participated. Bilateral meetings with participating countries and organizations were also held on the sidelines of the Forum and the Seminar.
In 2023, which marks the 50th Year of ASEAN-Japan Friendship and Cooperation, the JMOD/SDF will further promote Japan-ASEAN defense cooperation, and proactively contribute to the peace and stability of the region.
* On this occasion, the ASEAN Member States Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam participated.
Summaries of the 12th Japan-ASEAN Defense Vice-Ministerial Forum and the Japan-ASEAN Seminar on Climate Change and Security are as follows.
1. The 12th Japan-ASEAN Defense Vice-Ministerial Forum
The 12th Japan-ASEAN Defense Vice-Ministerial Forum was held for the first time in about four years and occurred in person, following the 11th Forum which was held in October 2019.
- At the outset, in his welcome remarks, Mr. INO Toshiro, State Minister of Defense expressed the willingness to further promote Japan-ASEAN defense cooperation in 2023, which marks the 50th Year of ASEAN-Japan Friendship and Cooperation.
- During the Forum, participants candidly exchanged information and opinions regarding the regional situation as well as security and defense policies of respective countries. Japan introduced some key strategy documents such as the “National Security Strategy” which was formulated in December 2022, expressed the commitment to maintain and reinforce the free and open international order, and to strengthen cooperation with likeminded countries and others in order to realize a “Free and Open Indo-Pacific (FOIP)”.
- Also, Japan reiterated that the vision of a “Free and Open Indo-Pacific” and the “ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific (AOIP)” share fundamental principles, and again, stressed that it would further promote Japan-ASEAN defense cooperation and exchanges.
- Moreover, Japan publicly announced that Japan has become the first country among Plus countries to have operationalized ASEAN Direct Communications Infrastructure (ADI).
2. The Japan-ASEAN Seminar on Climate Change and Security
Recognizing that climate change is a security threat, the Japan-ASEAN held for the first time as a new Japanese initiative, which aims to share knowledge between Japan and ASEAN Member States to help effectively address this common challenge.
- Japan explained its perception that climate change is a “spiral risk” that is not solely an issue for one country but is also a threat to global peace and stability; and that the security impacts have become even greater in the region including ASEAN.
- Japan introduced the “Ministry of Defense Response Strategy on Climate Change,” which was formulated in August 2022 as well as specific efforts that have been taken under this strategy.
- Participants delivered presentations and exchanged views on the impact of natural disasters associated with climate change that each country is facing and efforts being taken by respective militaries. Moreover, a subject matter expert from the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command joined the seminar via VTC to discuss linkages between climate change and security.